The illuminated menu on the wall promises small, medium, or large teas filled with fruit and sugar. All with or without boba.
I've lived in Southern California for long enough to know that boba means fat tapioca balls soaked in sugar syrup. Boba tea slash bubble tea is sweet, vaguely fruit flavored tea with said tapioca balls.
Back in high school, Lily and I walked forever to get to the nearest boba place. (It was not nearly so trendy back then). She went through a phase where she adored grapefruit green tea. I copied her. I always did.
I take my place in line.
Walker places his body behind mine. Wraps his arms around my waist and brings his mouth to my ear. "We can skip it if you're dead set on coffee."
He's close. It's not I want to tear your clothes off. It's I want to hold you all night. I want to kiss your pain away. I want to give you everything.
But, right now, it doesn't scare me.
I want more of it. All of it.
I lean closer. "No. I'm in."
"Trying a new thing?"
"Please, Beverly Hills Boy. My sophomore year of high school, I devoured a grapefruit green tea nearly every day."
"And here I am thinking I'm rocking your world."
"You are. Just not with this."
His laugh is soft. He pulls me closer. Leans in to whisper. "You have it recently?"
"Not since high school."
"This place is the best. Uses fresh fruit."
"Thank you for the infomercial." There are oranges, limes, and grapefruits all over the store. It does suggest the use of actual fruit. "When are you drinking sugary tea?"
"When I feel like it."
"I don't buy it."
"Buy it." He brushes my hair behind my ear. "I only do shit I feel like."
"Always?"
"Yeah."
"Doesn't that get in the way of work and paying your bills and getting an oil change?"
"No."
"You never wake up and think no fucking way am I moving today?"
"Of course."
"Explain the discrepancy."
"Yeah. I'm not always psyched for leg days. But I know I want to get bigger, stronger. So, I go to the gym. It's for me."
"And the oil change?"
"I take care of my car."